Hickory takes first 2 games from Kings Mountain

Monday

Jul 8, 2013 at 12:01 AMJul 8, 2013 at 10:58 PM

Tyler Johnson/Special to The Star

HICKORY — For a series that was suspended for five days, it didn’t show for Post Hickory 48 as it used big, multiple-run innings in both gamesto take a 2-0 series lead over Kings Mountain on Monday night.

Post 48 scored four runs in the sixth inning to put way Kings Mountain 8-0 in Game 1 and forced a 16-2 mercy rule win in five innings in Game 2.

Game 3 is scheduled for 5 p.m. Tuesday at Kings Mountain. Game 4, if necessary, will follow shortly after.

“It [the rain] is a major concern…when you take that much time off you never know what you’re gonna get because you can’t get out here and take ground balls, you can’t hit anything,” said Post 48 head coach Fore Rembert, whose team has been practicing in different facilities.

“But they have been taking their hitting very seriously, I thought we got several good hits tonight and obviously some timely hits.”

Matt Johnson got things rolling in the sixth inning of Game 1 with a single, Johnson then stole second and a throwing error from Post 155 catcher Colby Crisp advanced him to third, after a Luke Barton walk Davis Hanvey connected for a sacrifice fly to score Johnson; following a Colton Chapman single Phillip Carroll drilled a homer over the right-field fence to bring home Barton and Chapman for an 8-0 Post 48 lead.

Kings Mountain missed its opportunity in the first inning when Dallas Conner struck out with two runners in scoring position.

“We have to get ahead and keep leadoff runners off the base,” said Post 155 head coach Jason Bridges. “We’re going to have to have different approaches at the plate where we are hitting our pitches instead of theirs.”

Conner took the loss for Kings Mountain giving up two earned runs on three hits while striking out four and walking two in 2 1/3 innings of work.

After Hickory allowed Kings Mountain to knot score 2-all in Game 2, Post 48 took control with five runs in the second.

Post 48 added nine runs on just five hits in the third and fourth innings to provide the final score.

“We’re low on pitching, so we are going to have to start hitting it,” said Bridges. “We scored three runs in the 12 innings we played tonight. We’re going to have to score runs if we want to have a chance.”

Hickory combined for 18 hits in the two games.

Hunter Stinnett took the loss for Kings Mountain, who used four pitchers in the second game.

The Post 155 pitchers combined to give up 13 earned runs on nine hits while walking four, striking out one and hitting seven batters.

If Hickory wins Tuesday at Kings Mountain it will advance into the second round of the playoffs. If the game is rained out, the series will be reduced to a best-of-three series in which Post 48 will advance.